Oh, Pineapples.

35: What kind of detergent do you use?

"That won't be necessary," Javadd started, a snug look on his face. "See, the cops are right outside so it would be a little unwise to get ahead of yourself."

Travis ran his hands through his head. He looked around in disbelief. "Checkmate, indeed." He barked out a defeated laugh.

"But before I let the authorities do their job, I can help you figure out the one thing you couldn't." Javadd stared upward, as though he was trying to figure something out.

"Scarlett, I have a question for you this time." Javadd began, everyone was listening intently. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out that you logged on to the dark web a week before my father died to find a hitman?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," she feigned innocence.

"You knew that neither me nor Collin would want to take dad's place, and you thought the CEO position would be given to you once he died, didn't you?"

Scarlett remained quiet.

"That was why you seduced me, wasn't it? So you could control me into giving you the position?"

I gasp audibly. Collins eyes widen. Travis's eyebrows raise to his hairline in humored amusement.

"I still don't understand why you put that shipment of drugs and then got me arrested," Javadd bargained. "Why would you get me arrested?"

"Come on, Javadd. I thought you were smarter than that. This is probably why you couldn't be a leader, you don't look at the bigger picture." She walked towards Javadd, her boots clicking on the floor, " You wouldn't be able to run the business from behind bars, now would you?"

"But you bailed me out,"

"Yes, of course I did. How else would you trust that I wasn't responsible for putting you in jail in the first place? And anyway, if I had you arrested for two more drug related charges, you'd have to go to prison for longer. I was really hitting two birds with one stone,"

"You'd really do that so you would be CEO? I thought we were friends, Scarlett."

"But, anyway, you can't prove it. You can't prove that I put out that notice on the dark web." She challenged.

"Actually, I can. Trust me, I started this intervention prepared," he assured," I hope you rot in jail, Scarlett. He was my father," the same sadness I'd seen in his mother's eyes was in his own.

And as soon as he had finished his sentence, three police officers walked in the same time Mrs O'Brien broke down and started crying.

She had finally let herself cry.

"Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in the court of law," two of the officers in dark uniform said, while cuffing both Travis and Scarlett's hands.

Scarlett resisted but was quickly put down, while with a grin Travis said, "Sayonara, amigos! You haven't seen the last of me,"as he was pushed out of the door after Scarlett.

Damn. I've kissed both of these people before.

Javadd walked over to his mother and then embraced her gently, and then he let her cry. I couldn't believe it was the same woman who wanted me tracked down and killed, and yet I felt sorry for her.

Collin's phone rang, and he answered it on the second ring "Hey, the craziest shit just happened."

Mrs O'Brien had pulled back from Javadd's hug and then she looked at him long and hard, and then she looked at me.

"Please. Forgive me. Forgive him. None of this is his fault," she gave me a ghost of an apologetic smile. I nodded.

"Javadd, don't break her heart. I'll disown you, I'm serious." She raised her eyebrows, making me laugh a little. I think I'm starting to like this woman.

"If anything, she could break my heart. She's gonna be the end of me, mum." He muttered, eyes piercing into my own.

The room became ten degrees warmer.

"Okay, okay. I recon you two have a lot to talk about. I'm gonna be making some calls upstairs," And with that, she walked out.

Silence. It was just the two of us now, and for some reason I felt like I was ten centimetres shorter and Javadd was towering over me, even though he stood across the room.

"Hi." I began, my arms folded across my chest.

"Hi," he parroted. I could tell he wanted to say more, but he only bit his lip.

That's my thing. I thought to myself. I bite my lip when I'm nervous.

His lips, full and pink had his front teeth sunk into. I hadn't forgotten what they felt like on my own lips. On my own skin. But I wanted to be reminded.

I shivered. Partly because I was cold.

Javadd seemed to notice, and as though he had been waiting his whole life, he took one quick span, within half a moment, he was infront of me, pulling into a hug.

"You're cold," he stated. "Thats—thats why I'm hugging you." The corners of my lips to tugged upwards.

Nervous Javadd was definitely my favourite.

I almost moaned when the familiar cologne and laundry detergent invaded my nose, along with his warmth, which spread to the rest of my body. He took shallow breaths, and then his arms around me tightened, as though he was scared I would disappear.

"What kind of detergent do you use?" I spoke into his chest.

Translation for, 'we are okay. I know you didn't mean to lie to me.'

His chest rumbled with laughter, and if possible, he hugged me even tighter "I don't know. I don't care. You're cold and that's all that's important right now,"

Translation for, 'I had missed you, Jasmine.'

Maybe I had one more thing to live for.

***
A/N

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kisses and pineapples
–nicole <3